Program clock



D. K. THEILKAS I 2,305,283

PROGRAM CLOCK Dgc. 15, 1942..

Filed July .30, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .ZJora Zhy Klein Theilhas,

Dec. 15, 1942. D. K. THEILKAS PROGRAM CLOCK Filed July 30, 1941 2 Sheets-SheetZ wwm cm em au bkmhdak um 53 Muc w 5519 58% \a 95m amt uakuwmk hunt b 653. M30 awn ng; .358 3M m M QU Patented D -U 1 UNITED STATES] PATENT OFFICE PROGRAM CLOCK Dorothy Klein Theilkas, Kansas City, Mo.

2 Claims.

My invention relates to a program clock provided with the customary dial and hour hand Application July 30, 1941, Serial No. 404,673

staff, respectively. A chart may be used with the 7 clock listing a variety .of' appropriate activities and the different periods of time in which they are to be performed by children from the time they arise in the morning until they retire at night.

A stationary plate is associated with the clock and contains a series of pictures arranged exteriorly of and concentrically with the dial of the clock and appropriately illustrating the activities listed on the chart above-mentioned.

The pictures are arranged adjacent to the respective dial numerals indicating the time the different activities; represented by the pictures, are to be carried out. The pictures and the respective dial numerals are displayed in proper sequence by an opaque disk that rotates with the hour hand staff, and is provided with a segmental opening through which the pictures and the dial numerals may be viewed one by one as the disk rotates.

Other features will hereinafter appear and in order that the invention may be fully understood reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a'vertical section on line 2--2 of Fig.

1, with the major portion of the clock in elevation. I

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the stationary plate and the clock removed from their case.

Fig. 4 is a detail of the chart.

Referring in detail to the different parts, 2 designates a case provided at its front side with a hinged door 4 so that access can be had to the interior of the case. The door has an opening covered by a sheet of glass or other transparent material 6, through which parts inside of the case can be seen. The rear wall 8 of the case is removably held in place by screws or other appropriate means and has an opening in which the rear portion of a cylindrical housing l2 enclosng a clock movement I2 is secured. The clock movement may be of standard construction and either mechanically or electrically driven, as preferred.

-A stati nary display plate M of circular or o her suitable configuration is provided with an opening to receive the front portion of the housing l2 to which the plate is secured. The plate M has its face portion divided into a series of twelve equal spaces l8 arranged concentrically with the face of the clock movement andadjacent to the respective dial numerals and each space contains a picture representing an item listed on the chart l8 disclosed by Fig. 4. In the present instance only one picture is shown, but in practice the twelve spaces will contain appropriate pictorial representations of the twelve activities listed on the chart. The chart may be applied directly to an appropriate part of the housing l2, or it may be printed on a separate sheet and placed adjacent to the housing where it will be available for ready reference, The pictures may be printed directly upon the plate M, or applied thereto in any other appropriate manner.

The pictures will be arranged adjacent to the respective dial numerals indicating the time that the different activities, represented by said picturcs, are to be carried out, and will be uncovered in proper sequence by an opaque rotary disk 20 arranged in front of the pictures and the dial and provided with a segmental opening 22 which consecutively uncovers the pictures and the adjacent dial numerals so that they may be viewed one by one as the disk rotates. If desired the opening 22 may be covered with any suitable transparent material 23 such, for instance, as Celluloid through which each picture and the adjacent dial numeral may be seen as the opening registers therewith. Normally the disk 20 is firmly clamped upon an axial shaft 24 between a collar 26, fixed to the shaft, and a nut 28 threaded upon the outer end of the shaft. However, on loosening the nut 28 the disk 20 can be manually rotated independently of the shaft to bring the opening 22 into coincidence with any picture on the display plate I4, The inner end of the shaft 24 is secured to the front end of the hour hand staff C of the clock movement, so that the disk 20 will be rotated one complete revolution every twelve hours.

In order to prevent the disk 20 from becoming unbalanced and thus interfering with the proper timing of the clock, I compensate for the material removed from the opening 22 with a counterweight 30 of equal weight to such removed material and which is fixed to the margins of the opening. The disk 20 and the counterweight 30 are of light weight material to prevent them from acting as a drag on the clock mechanism.

If th dial numerals are too small to be easily read, I provide the display plate I! with an enlarged auxiliary dial 32 of greater diameter than the disk 20 and representing the hours from one to twelve inclusive, so that the time in which the various items or activities, illustrated by the pictures, are to be carried out can be readily deproach each numeral oi the 2 p r termined. I: desired the hands oi the clock may be dispensed with as the periods 0! time in which the diilerent activities are to be performed can be ascertained by the position of an index mark N with respect to the numerals on the auxiliary In practice the pictures on the display member II are arranged adjacent to the respective numerals oi the clock dial and the dial 32 which indicate the periods for carrying out the different activities represented by the pictures. For example, the picture representing a table set for the noon lunch will beadjacent to the respective numerals l2 as shown by Figs. 1 and 3. The rotary disk 20 will then be initially adjusted upon the shaft 24 to carry its opening 22 into coincidence with said picture after which the disk will be rigidly secured upon the shaft by screwing up the nut 28 until the. disk is clamped tightly against the collar 26-. The disk will then be driven clockwise at the rate of one revolution during a period or twelve hours and uncover the remaining pictures in proper sequence.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have provided a program clock which is well adapted for the purpose intended, and while Ihave shownonerormelmylnmtionlreservs the right to such other forms and modifications as pro erly fall within the spirit and scope oi the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A program clock comprising a rotary stair, a stationary member having a circular series oi pictures representing diii'erent activities and a dial carrying numerals surrounding the series and arranged concentrically with the stall, said ictures being arranged. adjacentto the respective dial numerals indicating the time the diil'erent activities are to be carried out, and a-rotary member fixed to the atafl and provided with an opening tor successively displaying the series of pictures, said. rotary member being of less diameter than the dial to constantly expose the numerals to view. 7

I 2. A program clock comprising a clock movement having a dial with numerals thereonand an hour hand stall, a cylindrical housing inclosing said clock movement, a stationary display member having an opening through which the housing extends, said display member having twelve divisions arranged concentrically with the dial and containing a circular series of pictures representing diil'erent activities, said pictures being arranged adjacent to the respective dial numerals indicating the time the different activities are to be carried out, and an opaque disk arranged to rotate with the hour hand stall! and or greater diameter than the dial, said disk having an opening through which the respective pictures and dial numerals are successively shown.

- DOROTHY KLEIN THEILKAS. 

